Sun Flashes A Goofy "Smile" For Halloween
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The Sun is getting excited about Halloween as well! On October 26, 2022, NASA's Solar Dynamic Observatory (SDO) caught the fiery star sporting a cheerful "smile." However, don't be fooled by the friendly "jack-o'-lantern" look. It could trigger a mild solar storm on Earth on October 29, 2022.
The three dark patches that form the "eyes" and "mouth" are coronal holes. The open structures allow solar winds to escape into space at speeds of up to 1.8 million mph (2.9 million kph). They appear dark because they are cooler and less dense than the rest of the Sun's surface.
Earth will be on the receiving end of the strong solar wind streams this time. Our atmosphere blocks the fierce bursts of radiation. Hence, they cause no harm to humans or animals on the ground. But the energy from the solar winds could disrupt our satellite systems and power grids. Fortunately, the impact is expected to be minimal.
Also, any minor inconvenience will be well worth it. When the Sun's electrically-charged particles collide with the Earth's atmosphere, they will spark beautiful light shows called auroras. The phenomenon is usually observed closer to the North and South Poles. That's because the Earth's magnetic field attracts the particles toward them.
Happy Halloween!
Resources: NASA.gov, Space.com, Weather.com
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204 Comments
- lowkeyglowingalmost 2 yearsOmg, that looks so cool but so creepy at the same time 😅
- memadilalmost 2 yearsI agree!
- happyunicorngrlalmost 2 yearscreepy is right noluv4u
- floridagirl234almost 2 yearsSoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo cute!!!!!!!!!!! I love it it looks like a baby sun!!
- ashleigh1666almost 2 yearsWhat If it ha a mind of its own the sun always do something weird
- shripoddyalmost 2 yearsTHIS IS SOOOO GOOFY AHHH
- crowfl00fsalmost 2 yearswoahhhh thats cool! but, did you know that the sun is going to explode in 7.3 trillon years??
- mnorton12almost 2 yearsOh that could be a problem
- lilz097almost 2 yearsI never knew the Sun liked Halloween. LOL!
- aubs11almost 2 yearscute ... The sun is gonna go trick or treating lol, but it's november where's the solar wind?!?! ANyways did anybody else see the blood moon it's just one thing after another.
- lowkeyglowingalmost 2 yearsOmg, yeah last year, the moon was like orange. Like REALLLYYY orange-- it was so cool!
- jackywackyalmost 2 yearsthis guy wants to go trick or treating too
- jackywackyalmost 2 yearsgoofy ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh smile
- foxforsburgalmost 2 yearsThat what im sayin!
- milkfanforeveralmost 2 yearscool